»Introduction
I know that you want more out of life than just a job. You want to be a star – a total career and life success. In this article I’ll give you a five point plan for becoming a career and life success.

»Step 1
In my recent book, Straight Talk for Success, I point out that all people who achieve career and life success have five things in common.
1. People who achieve career and life success are self confident.
2. People who achieve career and life success create positive personal impact.
3. People who achieve career and life success are outstanding performers.
4. People who achieve career and life success are dynamic communicators.
5. People who achieve career and life success are interpersonally competent.

»Step 2
If you want to become self confident, you need to do three things. 1) Become an optimist. Learn from and then forget yesterday’s mistakes. Focus on tomorrow’s achievements. 2) Face your fears and take action. Action cures fear. 3) Surround yourself with positive people. Build a network of supportive friends, and just as important, find a mentor to help you along the way.

»Step 3
If you want to create positive personal impact, you need to do these three things. 1) Develop, nurture and constantly promote your personal brand. Figure out the two or three things for which you want to be known; then do whatever it takes to become known that way. 2) Dress for success; be impeccable in your presentation of self. Look in the mirror on your way out the door. Make sure that your appearance show that you respect not only yourself, but the people you will meet that day. 3) Finally, know and follow the basic rules of etiquette. For example, when you are at a business lunch or dinner, if you know the basic rules of dining etiquette, you can concentrate on the conversation without having to worry about if you are acting appropriately.

»Step 4
As you might expect, there are three things essential for becoming an outstanding performer. 1) You have to be technically competent. If you want to remain technically competent throughout your career, you need to become a lifelong learner. 2) You need to set and achieve high goals. Focus on your goals every day, or you might lose sight of them. Set milestones to help you keep on track with your goals. 3) You need to be well organized. Outstanding performers manage their time, stress and lifestyle well.

»Step 5
There are three keys to dynamic communication too. 1) You need to become an excellent conversationalist. Listen more than you speak. Show a genuine interest in other people and what they have to say. 2) You need to write in a clear, concise, easily readable style. Write like you speak; imagine yourself in a conversation with the person reading your writing. 3) Finally, you need to present well – to groups of two or 200. All business superstars, especially product managers, have the ability to make dynamic presentations that move their audience to action.

»Step 6
Interpersonal competence is the final key to becoming a product management superstar. 1) Interpersonally competent product managers are self aware. They understand themselves and their impact on others. They use their self awareness to increase their influence with others. 2) Build solid, long lasting mutually beneficial relationships with other people. Relationships are the key to long term success in the product management business. Treat others with dignity and respect, and they will reciprocate. 3) Finally, find ways to resolve conflicts with a minimal amount of problems and upset to relationships. Conflict is inevitable in business and life. Successful people find ways to resolve conflict in a manner that enhances, not detracts from the relationships they’ve worked so hard to build.

»Step 7
Self confidence, positive personal impact, outstanding performance, dynamic communication and interpersonal competence are the five keys to career and life success and to becoming a product management superstar. You can learn more about them by logging on to www.StraightTalkForSuccess.com.